Any Homeschoolers?

Hi! I'm a first time mom-to-be (15 weeks along), and I wanted to know if anyone on this board homeschooled their kids or plans on homeschooling in the future. As I grew up, my mother homeschooled me, and it was a great experience. Now I'm a senior in college, and my experience there couldn't have been better. I feel that homeschooling really prepared me for college academics. I'm hoping to homeschool my child someday. For homeschooling parents, what philosophy do (will) you adhere to? Somehow, I want to combine elements of both unschooling and the classical approach. Any feedback and/or success stories would be greatly appreciated! I know I won't need to worry about this for awhile yet, but I want to start early with my child and be well-prepared. Thanks! :)

Hi! I'm a first time mom-to-be (15 weeks along), and I wanted to know if anyone on this board homeschooled their kids or plans on homeschooling in the future. As I grew up, my mother homeschooled me, and it was a great experience. Now I'm a senior in college, and my experience there couldn't have been better. I feel that homeschooling really prepared me for college academics. I'm hoping to homeschool my child someday. For homeschooling parents, what philosophy do (will) you adhere to? Somehow, I want to combine elements of both unschooling and the classical approach. Any feedback and/or success stories would be greatly appreciated! I know I won't need to worry about this for awhile yet, but I want to start early with my child and be well-prepared. Thanks! :)

I am seriously thinking about it. My DD is just two now. I know a couple families and am in the process of starting my research. Got a few books on hold at the library. The more I learn about it, seems like there are more and more benefits I like. The top private schools here cost $17,000 a year! And even then, I know a lot if kids who graduated those schools and did not even go to college. We are leaning toward homeschooling for better education, more flexibility in our schedules, tax benefits?? (looking in to what exactly is a tax write off), social benefits as I can directly influence who she has as friends.

I am seriously thinking about it. My DD is just two now. I know a couple families and am in the process of starting my research. Got a few books on hold at the library. The more I learn about it, seems like there are more and more benefits I like. The top private schools here cost $17,000 a year! And even then, I know a lot if kids who graduated those schools and did not even go to college. We are leaning toward homeschooling for better education, more flexibility in our schedules, tax benefits?? (looking in to what exactly is a tax write off), social benefits as I can directly influence who she has as friends.

I feel that I received a much better education than many of the students I attend class with. For a short while, I thought about being a teacher, but after taking an education class, I was shocked at the current state of the public education system! The schools in my area are especially bad. By homeschooling, you can gear the curriculum to meet your child's interests and you can also cover a broader range of subjects. I think it's great that you are considering it!

I feel that I received a much better education than many of the students I attend class with. For a short while, I thought about being a teacher, but after taking an education class, I was shocked at the current state of the public education system! The schools in my area are especially bad. By homeschooling, you can gear the curriculum to meet your child's interests and you can also cover a broader range of subjects. I think it's great that you are considering it!

I've taught in the public school system for seven years and am considering homeschooling. I've yet to see a school that I consider to be well run. There is one French immersion school I might consider.

I've taught in the public school system for seven years and am considering homeschooling. I've yet to see a school that I consider to be well run. There is one French immersion school I might consider.

That sounds very interesting! I am really hoping that I'll be able to teach my child French (I'm still learning it myself).

On another note, I'm glad no one is offended at my post. I thought about it afterwards and realized that many are public school advocates, and some were able to get a great education at traditional schools. It just wasn't for me... Also, I know there are many AMAZING teachers who truly care and want change, but they have their hands tied and are unable to revolutionize the system.

In any case, I hope everyone likes the schooling they choose to adopt for their children. :)

That sounds very interesting! I am really hoping that I'll be able to teach my child French (I'm still learning it myself).

On another note, I'm glad no one is offended at my post. I thought about it afterwards and realized that many are public school advocates, and some were able to get a great education at traditional schools. It just wasn't for me... Also, I know there are many AMAZING teachers who truly care and want change, but they have their hands tied and are unable to revolutionize the system.

In any case, I hope everyone likes the schooling they choose to adopt for their children. :)

No I didn't see it as offensive. I feel I was a very good product of the public school system. But I was a good student and had good parents. Were you homeschooled the whole way? What made your parents decide to homeschool? What types of social activities did you have and was learning to socialize with other kids ever a problem? Last one kinda sounds like a dumb question but you know that is so the stigma that homeschoolers are weird. But I really don't think this is the case.

No I didn't see it as offensive. I feel I was a very good product of the public school system. But I was a good student and had good parents. Were you homeschooled the whole way? What made your parents decide to homeschool? What types of social activities did you have and was learning to socialize with other kids ever a problem? Last one kinda sounds like a dumb question but you know that is so the stigma that homeschoolers are weird. But I really don't think this is the case.

I am planning/hoping to homeschool my lo. When I told my friend who just graduated from OU with teaching degree she kinda freaked out on me. Not sure if she's done her research but I have done some, not enough yet but it seems like the right choice for me.

I am planning/hoping to homeschool my lo. When I told my friend who just graduated from OU with teaching degree she kinda freaked out on me. Not sure if she's done her research but I have done some, not enough yet but it seems like the right choice for me.

I am also a former homeschool-ee and plan to homeschool my son. Currently, I am planning on working part-time and DH is a grad student and sets his own schedule. I haven't thought too far ahead to the details, but we are very lucky that in our town there is a large HSing group and lots of classes through our rec center, art center, etc.

I am also a former homeschool-ee and plan to homeschool my son. Currently, I am planning on working part-time and DH is a grad student and sets his own schedule. I haven't thought too far ahead to the details, but we are very lucky that in our town there is a large HSing group and lots of classes through our rec center, art center, etc.

I am a beginning homeschooler. I fought my ex husband for two years over the issue and was able to show him this Spring that after not even two years in the public school system it was already failing our son. I have a 7 year old who is a total genius at math and science, wants to study black holes. He's less than two months out of first grade with very very casual summer home schooling (and a 2 week break to visit dad already) he has gone from their single digit addition/subtraction to adding/subtracting numbers in the hundreds and grasping the concepts of multiplication .

By Michigan's school standards for the 2nd grade year (available online), he's approaching the end of 2nd grade math in his abilities to add and subtract larger numbers and do multiplication through 3s.

Due to ex issues we can't totally unschool but we are blending that philosophy in. My son gets a huge amount of say in what we study any given day and is learning a ton.

I am a beginning homeschooler. I fought my ex husband for two years over the issue and was able to show him this Spring that after not even two years in the public school system it was already failing our son. I have a 7 year old who is a total genius at math and science, wants to study black holes. He's less than two months out of first grade with very very casual summer home schooling (and a 2 week break to visit dad already) he has gone from their single digit addition/subtraction to adding/subtracting numbers in the hundreds and grasping the concepts of multiplication .

By Michigan's school standards for the 2nd grade year (available online), he's approaching the end of 2nd grade math in his abilities to add and subtract larger numbers and do multiplication through 3s.

Due to ex issues we can't totally unschool but we are blending that philosophy in. My son gets a huge amount of say in what we study any given day and is learning a ton.

I was in 5th grade and my brother was in 6th grade when we started to homeschool. We moved from a small, country school to a large, overcrowded one. I was miserable! My straight As dropped to Cs. I was bored because I wasn't being challenged enough, so I stopped trying. The teacher was really mean too. I went from loving school to hating it. My parents saw how miserable I was and asked me if I wanted to homeschool. I decided that it was the best option for me and never looked back. It was a great experience, and I loved to learn again (and have never stopped!).

As far as socialization goes, I usually preferred to be alone, but I had childhood friends and a large family to have fun with from time to time. Also, my mom enrolled me in dance classes which helped too. At the time, we were very involved in our church (not so much anymore) and that gave me lots of opportunities to socialize and make friends.

I was in 5th grade and my brother was in 6th grade when we started to homeschool. We moved from a small, country school to a large, overcrowded one. I was miserable! My straight As dropped to Cs. I was bored because I wasn't being challenged enough, so I stopped trying. The teacher was really mean too. I went from loving school to hating it. My parents saw how miserable I was and asked me if I wanted to homeschool. I decided that it was the best option for me and never looked back. It was a great experience, and I loved to learn again (and have never stopped!).

As far as socialization goes, I usually preferred to be alone, but I had childhood friends and a large family to have fun with from time to time. Also, my mom enrolled me in dance classes which helped too. At the time, we were very involved in our church (not so much anymore) and that gave me lots of opportunities to socialize and make friends.

I say stick to your guns! Colleges now routinely accept students who have been homeschooled (they didn't used to) because studies have shown that homeschoolers, on average, perform better than their contemporaries. I think this might be because homeschoolers are used to spending large amounts of time studying and reading on their own. Some might tell you that the best way to learn is in a traditional setting, but that simply isn't the case. Of course, homeschooling really isn't for all children, so parents have to decide what will work best for their family.

I say stick to your guns! Colleges now routinely accept students who have been homeschooled (they didn't used to) because studies have shown that homeschoolers, on average, perform better than their contemporaries. I think this might be because homeschoolers are used to spending large amounts of time studying and reading on their own. Some might tell you that the best way to learn is in a traditional setting, but that simply isn't the case. Of course, homeschooling really isn't for all children, so parents have to decide what will work best for their family.

Wow! Thanks for sharing your positive experience! It's great that you can work at your kid's pace. He sounds like a very smart little boy. I'm hoping to tailor a curriculum to my child's needs too - whether he or she is advanced or needs a little bit of extra help.

My boyfriend wants me to make all the decisions about our kid's education. I'm glad that I have freedom to do what I want, but there's certainly a lot to think about!

Wow! Thanks for sharing your positive experience! It's great that you can work at your kid's pace. He sounds like a very smart little boy. I'm hoping to tailor a curriculum to my child's needs too - whether he or she is advanced or needs a little bit of extra help.

My boyfriend wants me to make all the decisions about our kid's education. I'm glad that I have freedom to do what I want, but there's certainly a lot to think about!

I wish there were more resources for me in my community. I'm going to do some research though and see if there is a homeschooling association for me to join that isn't too far away. Of course, many of them are Christian based, and I'm not that religious... Hopefully, I'll have another option.

I wish there were more resources for me in my community. I'm going to do some research though and see if there is a homeschooling association for me to join that isn't too far away. Of course, many of them are Christian based, and I'm not that religious... Hopefully, I'll have another option.

That is great! That has always been my fear, that they wouldn't be able to get into college. I am glad that is changing. I have a ten yr old I have been thinking about homeschooling, he is one of these smart science/history kids who is bored at school. He is borderline ADD, but is fine when he is intersted in a subject, which doesn't happen very often since his interests are always ahead of what they are teaching, you know?

That is great! That has always been my fear, that they wouldn't be able to get into college. I am glad that is changing. I have a ten yr old I have been thinking about homeschooling, he is one of these smart science/history kids who is bored at school. He is borderline ADD, but is fine when he is intersted in a subject, which doesn't happen very often since his interests are always ahead of what they are teaching, you know?

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